On November 15, 1917, with his country embroiled in a bitter international conflict that would eventually take the lives of over 1 million of its young men, 76-year-old Georges Clemenceau is named prime minister of France for the second time.

The young Clemenceau was first elected to parliament in 1876, five years after France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. From that time on, he considered the newly united Germany a menace and another war as inevitable, given that "Germany believes that the logic of her victory means domination." With a strong rate of industrial growth and a steadily increasing population, Germany pressed its advantage in the ensuing decades, while France’s economy remained static and its birth rate remained in decline. Clemenceau, who served as prime minister from 1906 to 1909, remained vehemently anti-German, arguing for greater military preparedness and tighter alliances with Britain and Russia.

Clemenceau’s predictions were confirmed in the summer of 1914 with the outbreak of World War I. Three prime ministers--Rene Viviani, Aristide Briand and Paul Painleve--served during the first three years of the war, as the continuing carnage on the battlefield combined with internal turmoil to bring the country’s morale to an all-time low. In November 1917, President Raymond Poincare put aside his personal dislike for "The Tiger"--as Clemenceau was known--and asked him to return as prime minister. Despite a long history of animosity between the two men, Poincare recognized that Clemenceau shared his desire to defeat Germany at all costs, and had the will to carry that desire to its end in spite of defeatist factions within the French government who called for an immediate end to the war.

Immediately after taking office, Clemenceau had his most vocal pacifist opponent, Joseph Caillaux, arrested and charged with treason; he subsequently vowed no surrender, telling the chamber of deputies that France’s only duty now was "to cleave to the soldier, to live, to suffer, to fight with him." Over the next year, Clemenceau would hold his country together through the darkest days of the war and finally into the light: In November 1918, when he heard the Germans had agreed to an armistice, the old Tiger broke down in tears.

At the peace conference in Paris in 1919, Clemenceau stood alongside U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Britain as the three central negotiators. Clemenceau personally disliked both men, once famously remarking that he sometimes felt himself "between Jesus Christ on the one hand, and Napoleon Bonaparte on the other." He especially clashed with Wilson, whom he viewed as far too idealistic in his view of the post-war world. Though Clemenceau successfully insisted that the Versailles Treaty require German disarmament and stiff reparations, as well as the return to France of the territories of Alsace-Lorraine, lost in the Franco-Prussian War, he remained dissatisfied with the treaty in its final form, believing it treated Germany too leniently. Many in the French electorate agreed, and in January 1920 they rejected their old hero as prime minister. In his subsequent retirement, Clemenceau published his memoirs, The Grandeur and Misery of Victory, in which he predicted another war with Germany would break out by 1940. He died on November 24, 1929, in Paris.

The following despatch has been received from Captain John C. T. Glossop, reporting the capture of the German Cruiser ''Emden'' by H. M. A. S. "Sydney."

A memorandum is also appended by the Director of the Air Department, Admiralty, containing a report on the aerial attack on the airship sheds and factory at Friedrichshafen.

To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Despatch from Captain Glossop.

H. M. A. S. "Sydney" at Colombo, 15th November. 1914.

Sir,

I have the honour to report that whilst on escort duty with the Convoy under the charge of Captain Silver, H. M. A. S. "Melbourne," at 6. 30 a. m., on Monday, 9th November, a wireless message from Cocos was heard reporting that a foreign warship was off the entrance. I was ordered to raise steam for full speed at 7. 0 a. m. and proceeded thither. I worked up to 20 knots, and at 9. 15 a. m. sighted land ahead and almost immediately the smoke of a ship, which proved to be H. I. G. M. S. "Emden" coming out towards me at a great rate. At 9. 40 a. m., fire was opened, she firing the first shot. I kept my distance as much as possible to obtain the advantage of my guns. Her fire was very accurate and rapid to begin with, but seemed to slacken very quickly, all casualties occurring in this ship almost immediately. First the foremost funnel of her went, secondly the foremast, and she was badly on fire aft, then the second funnel went, and lastly the third funnel, and I saw she was making for the beach on North Keeling Island, where she grounded at 11. 20 a. m. I gave her two more broadsides and left her to pursue a merchant ship which had come up during the action.

2. Although I had guns on this merchant ship at odd times during the action I had not fired, and as she was making off fast I pursued and overtook her at 12. 10, firing a gun across her bows, and hoisting International Code Signal to stop, which she did. I sent an armed boat and found her to be the S. S. "Buresk," a captured British collier, with 18 Chinese crew, 1 English Steward, 1 Norwegian Cook, and a German Prize Crew of 3 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer and 12 men. The ship unfortunately was sinking, the Kingston knocked out and damaged to prevent repairing, so I took all on board, fired 4 shells into her and returned to "Emden," passing men swimming in the water, for whom I left 2 boats I was towing from "Buresk."

3. On arriving again off "Emden" she still had her colours up at mainmast head. I enquired by signal, International Code, "Will you surrender ?"and received a reply in Morse "What signal? No signal books. " I then made in Morse "Do you surrender?" and subsequently "Have you received my signal?" to neither of which did I get an answer. The German Officers on board gave me to understand that the Captain would never surrender, and therefore, though very reluctantly, I again fired at her at 4. 30 p. m., ceasing at 4. 35, as she showed white flags and hauled down her ensign by sending a man aloft.

4. I then left "Emden" and returned and picked up the "Buresk's" two boats, rescuing 2 sailors (5. 0 p. m.), who had been in the water all day. I returned and sent in one boat to "Emden," manned by her own prize crew from "Buresk," and 1 Officer, and stating I would return to their assistance next morning. This I had to do, as I was desirous to find out the condition of cables and Wireless Station at Direction Island. On the passage over I was again delayed by rescuing another sailor (6. 30 p. m.), and by the time I was again ready and approaching Direction Island it was too late for the night.

5. I lay on and off all night and communicated with Direction Island at 8. 0 a. m., 10th November, to find that the "Emden's" party consisting of 3 officers and 40 men, 1 launch and 2 cutters had seized and provisioned a 70 tons schooner (the "Ayesha"), having 4 Maxims, with 2 belts to each. They left the previous night at six o'clock. The Wireless Station was entirely destroyed, 1 cable cut, 1 damaged, and 1 intact. I borrowed a Doctor and 2 Assistants, and proceeded as fast as possible to "Emden's" assistance.

6. I sent an Officer on board to see the Captain, and in view of the large number of prisoners and wounded and lack of accommodation, &c., in this ship, and the absolute impossibility of leaving them where they were, he agreed that if I received his Officers and men and all wounded, "then as for such time as they remained in "Sydney'" they would cause no interference with ship or fittings, and would be amenable to the ship's discipline." I therefore set to work at once to tranship them a most difficult operation, the ship being on weather side of Island and the send alongside very heavy. The conditions in the "Emden" were indescribable. I received the last from her at 5. 0 p. m., then had to go round to the lee side to pick up 20 more men who had managed to get ashore from the ship.

7. Darkness came on before this could be accomplished, and the ship again stood off and on all night, resuming operations at 5. 0 a. m. on 11th November, a cutter's crew having to land with stretchers to bring wounded round to embarking point. A German Officer, a Doctor, died ashore the previous day. The ship in the meantime ran over to Direction Island to return their Doctor and Assistants, send cables, and was back again at 10. 0 a. m., embarked the remainder of wounded, and proceeded for Colombo by 10. 35 a. m. Wednesday, 11th November.

8. Total casualties in "Sydney": Killed 3, severely wounded (since dead) 1, severely wounded 4, wounded 4, slightly wounded 4. In the "Emden" I can only approximately state the killed at 7 Officers and 108 men from Captain's statement. I had on board 11 Officers, 9 Warrant Officers, and 191 men, of whom 3 Officers and 53 men were wounded, and of this number 1 Officer and 3 men have since died of wounds.

9. The damage to "Sydney's" hull and fittings was surprisingly small; in all about 10 hits seem to have been made. The engine and boiler rooms and funnels escaped entirely.

10. I have great pleasure in stating that the behaviour of the ship's company was excellent in every way, and with such a large proportion of young hands and people under training it is all the more gratifying. The engines worked magnificently, and higher results than trials were obtained, and I cannot speak too highly of the Medical Staff and arrangements on subsequent trip, the ship being nothing but a hospital of a most painful description.

(...) Although War Office records state that the manning was civilian, photographs clearly show the men in Frontiersmen uniforms wearing rank chevrons. According to the War Office file, Romsey depot was started “about 15th November 1914” by a firm “Messrs Perry & Co.” Frontiersmen were men of action and not words, so very few of them left clear written accounts of their lives. (...)

15th November 1914 - The news of Lord Roberts's death came to-day. From nearly every Russian officer I met and from all my Allied colleagues came expressions of sympathy. I think everyone without exception who knew 'Bobs' loved him. The Emperor sent a most kind message to me about him.

(...) Two weeks after war came to the Black Sea, Ebergardt began his first offensive. Because the roads of Anatolia were few and poor, the Turks were forced to rely on coastal traffic to transport supplies most of this was done by small sailing vessels. The Russian fleet sailed from Sevastopol on 15 November 1914 and carried out a sweep along the Anatolian coast, shelling Trebizond and picking off any of the small coastal ships they came across. On hearing of the Russian action, Souchon took Goeben and Breslau out to sea, steering a course intended to cut the Russians off from Sevastopol. (...)

ARMENIAN RELIEF
Sir,-In one of your recent issues the Archbishop of Canterbury made an appeal on behalf of the Nestorian and Syrian Christians who have fled from outrages and massacres in Turkey. It may interest your readers to know that this fund, to which the Archbishop kindly refers in his letter to you, has telegraphed £550 to Mr. Shirley who recently telegraphed to our Foreign Office the information as to the 25,000 destitute and indeed perishing refugees in his neighbourhood. One lady has sent us a donation of £50 for this particular work, which we have forwarded in the above-mentioned amount. Though our fund is formed primarily for the relief of Armenian refugees, we have laid it down from the first that any others fleeing from the same awful fate should be entitled to share in the relief. Altogether we have received nearly £12,000 but unfortunately that is a small sum compared to the necessities of over 200,000 refugees. I am, yours, faithfully.
ANEURIN WILLIAMS, Chairman Armenian Refugees (Lord Mayor's) Fund. 96, Victoria-street, S.W., Nov. 12.

The First World War - The great commotion of 1914-1918 incited many of our soldiers to fight with a lot of courage and self-denial. In order to reward these heroic deeds of the most courageous among them, King Albert I granted the cross of the Order of Leopold with palms to 268 petty officers, corporals and soldiers. The palm with the King’s figure (Traduction ?) was put on the ribbon of the decoration (Royal decree of 15 November 1915).

We moved onto the small town of Watou to see the 12 graves at Watou Churchyard. These burials contain casualties over a four-year spread in two tiny sections, which led us to wonder why the later casualties had been buried there (and not at one of the larger casualty clearing station sites) or not removed at a later date. There were two particular soldiers we were visiting, both of whom were relatively unusual casualties: -

Second Lieutenant Robert Priest of 276th Bde. Royal Field Artillery, from Hull who had been promoted from the ranks (50th North Midland Brigade Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force) and died on 15 August 1917; his service record contains a hand-written remark that his death aged 22 was self-inflicted but there were no further details or comments regarding this.

Private Philip Dougherty of 11th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) who was accidentally killed during bombing instruction on 15 November 1915, aged 38; the courts martial held at Ypres Prison shared the blame between Private Hargreaves and Serjeant Tipton, although evidence suggests that both the battalion bombing officer and the C.O. were also responsible to some degree. He had enlisted in August 1914 and was the father of seven children

On 5 December, 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his team of 27 explorers set sail for the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. The mission was to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent, coast to coast via the South Pole. On 17 January, within sight of land, their expedition vessel the Endurance became frozen fast in ice floes. In May, the Antarctic sun set for the last time before winter. When spring arrived, the breaking of the ice and subsequent movement of giant ice floes splintered the ship’s hull.

On 15 November, 1915, the Endurance finally slipped beneath the ice. Stranded all alone, beyond all hope of rescue, the team was to endure the most uninhabitable, the windiest, and the coldest place on earth, surviving on penguins, seals and sea birds.

For five months, Shackleton and his men camped on ice floes, marched on ice for over 100 km and finally, on 9 April, the ice floe that they were camped on broke into two. Shackleton decided that the crew should enter the lifeboats and head for the nearest land. After seven days at sea in the three small lifeboats, the men landed on Elephant Island, but the island was also an inhospitable place far from any shipping routes and thus a very poor location to wait for rescue. On 24 April, 1916 Shackleton took decisive action and set sail for South Georgia with five of his most able men.

South Georgia is a tiny island in the direct track of deep atmospheric depressions that roar through the Drake Passage between Terra del Fuego and Antarctica with near freezing annual temperatures. Miraculously they survived the 1300 km odyssey, which took two weeks in an open lifeboat across the worlds most treacherous of oceans. The crossing is regarded as the most remarkable rescue saga in maritime history. The story of Shackleton’s epic survival and subsequent rescue of his crew on Elephant Island (not a single crewmember was lost) is still hailed as the greatest epic of the century.

[November] 15th. [1916] - This morning at 5.30 the place reminded me of a fairy tale. It was brilliant
blue moonlight, & the stars glittering, air frosty. The washerwomen were all at work - washing
on the shore - Others coming up with their enormous packs on their shoulders & the water
carriers - with their washing tents on barrows - filling them at the tap - & taking them home -
for the day’s supply of water. It all looked so eerie - in the moonlight - & everything & everyone
cash sharp black shadows on the ground. We are still seething with Australians - I have 100
still, they are getting to be less unruly now thank goodness. Off yesterday afternoon, went for
trudge along the shore with old Waite - we wanted to go through the cave that comes out at the
Station but the tide was too high for us to get in. Maj. Martyn announces that he would like to
come & see you - & stay for a few days - after the War - I said - I was quite sure you would
welcome him.

Sir H. DALZIEL asked whether, in view of the fact that goods are allowed to be shipped to Holland on the guarantee of the Netherlands Overseas Trust, he will make it a condition that the Trust shall make returns of all firms who have been fined for breaking their undertaking not to export such goods to the enemy, so that they may be placed on the black list?

Lord R. CECIL Full lists of such firms are already supplied periodically by the Netherlands Overseas Trust to the Foreign Office.

This colourful cross pendant was given to 31544 Lance Corporal Edgar Squire of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion by his mother as a good luck charm before he went overseas for World War One.

The swastika is a symbol used in Buddhism and in Hinduism, and became popular in the West 1880's to 1920's as a good luck charm/symbol until it was subverted by the Nazi's.

It is not known if this cross was purchased in England or via a jeweller in New Zealand. It is understood to have been made by Adie & Lovekin Ltd of Birmingham (c1880-1910) circa 1910.

Edgar Squire left New Zealand with the 19th Reinforcements C Company Canterbury Infrantry Battalion 15th November 1916 on board either His Majesty's NZ Transport (HMNZT) No 68 "Maunganui" or HMNZT No 69 "Tahiti".

Within Bazentin-le-Petit, heading uphill, a track leads off from the right of the road to Bazentin-le-Petit Communal Cemetery. This, the village civilian cemetery, contains the graves of two British soldiers. They are somewhat different in appearance to most CWGC graves on the Somme, as they are marked in outline full-length (see photo below).

The graves are of RSM W. Pearce of the 10th Loyal North Lancashires, and Lieutenant L. S. H. Griffin of the 10th Gloucesters. It has been speculated that these two bodies were recovered by French civilians after the War and brought back to the village Communal Cemetery for reburial. This may possibly be the case for RSM Pearce, but a letter from the War Office to Lieutenant Griffin's father sent on the 15th of November 1916 states that he is buried in Bazentin-le-Petit Communal Cemetery, where he still lies today. This letter goes on to say that the grave was "marked by a durable wooden cross with an inscription bearing full particulars".

A railway collision occurred at Featherston Station on Thursday, resulting in serious injury to Private O’HARA, 33rd Reinforcements, and slight injury to three other soldiers. At the time he was standing on the carriage platform and was thrown backwards against the rail and injured his back. He was taken to camp hospital and it is believed his spine is not injured. Another soldier had his face cut.

After 2 ½ years, Mr & Mrs A BISSETT, late of Feilding but now of Wanganui, have received the bugle used by their son George F BISSETT before he was killed on Gallipoli. The bugler boy engraved on the instrument the name of each camping place and the bugle has three bullet holes in it.

LEWIN, Cpl C and Private R A JOHNSON, both Main Body Expeditionary Force, Auckland Infantry Battalion, have been awarded the Military Medal, LEWIN for conspicuously good work at Gallipoli, and JOHNSON for gallant conduct at the Battle of the Somme.

Susan notes: some sources say these events occured on November 14. The exact date is unimportant really. What is vital is to remember that the rights women have today were hard won by brave women in the past.

This is the story of American women who were ground-breakers in the women's movement. These brave women and others from around the globe made all the difference in the lives we live today.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that American women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote. The women were innocent and defenseless, but when, in North America, women picketed in front of the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote, they were jailed.

And by the end of the first night in jail, those women were barely alive.

Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

Lucy Burns
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

Dora Lewis
They hurled Dora Lewis (right) into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold.

Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

Alice Paul
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited.

She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

All women who have every voted, have ever owned property, have ever enjoyed equal rights need to remember that women's rights had to be fought for in Canada as well. Do our daughters and our sisters know the price that was paid to earn rights for women here, in North America?

This year, 2009, is the 80th Anniversary of the Persons Case in Canada, which finally declared women in Canada to be Persons!

In a 2004 blog post on Womens eNews, Louise Bernikow, describes the circumstance surrounding the event thus (her article BTW, says the Night of Terror ocurred on November 14, not 15):

Alice Paul, Lucy Burns and other members of the National Woman's Party aimed to humiliate the president and expose the hypocrisy of "making the world safe for democracy" when there was none at home. Their banners said, "Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty." They hung Wilson in effigy and burned copies of his speeches.

Arrests began in June. "Obstructing traffic" was the usual charge, but many prison officials--as well as citizens--considered the suffragists traitors. In the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia, they ate rancid food; were denied medical care and refused visitors. The demonstrators applied for political prisoner status. It was denied.

But the government's tactic didn't work. On release from prison, women returned to the White House gates. Their ranks swelled. By November, there were more marches and more arrests. An investigation had been launched into conditions at Occoquan and the activities of its superintendent, W.H. Whittaker, whose special cruelty was well known.

Whittaker and his workhouse guards greeted 33 returning protestors on what has become known as the infamous "Night of Terror," November 14, 1917. Forty-four club-wielding men beat, kicked, dragged and choked their charges, which included at least one 73-year-old woman. Women were lifted into the air and flung to the ground. One was stabbed between the eyes with the broken staff of her banner. Lucy Burns was handcuffed to the bars of her cell in a torturous position. Women were dragged by guards twisting their arms and hurled into concrete "punishment cells."

For all the pain, this brutal night may have turned the tide. Less than two weeks later, a court-ordered hearing exposed the beaten women to the world and the judge agreed they had been terrorized for nothing more than exercising their constitutional right to protest. It would take three more years to win the vote, but the courageous women of 1917 had won a new definition of female patriotism.

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know, so that we remember to celebrate the rights we enjoy.

Commander BELLAIRS asked whether any estimate has been formed of the indemnities which Germany has already levied on France, Belgium, and Russia by levies, fines, and organised systems of looting in the conquered territories?

Lord R. CECIL I can only surmise that estimates have probably been formed by the Governments of the countries directly concerned, but such estimates, if made, have not been communicated to His Majesty's Government.

Commander BELLAIRS Would it not be very useful to have an estimate for propaganda purposes?

Lord R. CECIL I am much obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for the suggestion. I shall certainly consider it.

Dear Mother-:
I have now been in the American army long enough to feel that I am quite a part of it, and moreover, being a part of that, a part of nothing else in the world, for never in my life did I feel more out of things and away from home. Since I have been out I have not had one word from home, from Paris or from anywhere. American efficiency isn’t all that it might be just yet as concerns the incoming mail and as regards the outgoing if it works the same way by now you probably think I am dead. Anyway I have written quite a lot lately to you, Carroll and Nannoo and maybe some day they will arrive.

As you can well imagine we did not stay long in the pleasant place we first arrived in but moved out into a much more disagreeable locality.

I am at present billeted with a charming old French couple who look after me as if I was their son and together with my orderly reduce living to a matter of doing the things you can’t tell other people to do for you. I have a great room in about the best house in town.

The bed is a huge four-poster affair hung with yellow silk curtains. The rest of the room is all long mirrors, long windows, blue paper and a marble fireplace. Very pretty but not practical since I don’t believe that for a moment since I arrived has the temperature been much over freezing in spite of the fire which I have burning practically all the time. The town itself is horrible, about 1,200 inhabitants in about two acres of stone buildings that stick up out of a sea of mud and look as though they were built at some antediluvian date. They are old but not attractive, so in fact quite the opposite, like some people.

All the inhabitants seem to be of two varieties, very dirty children and very dirty toothless old ladies.

Imagine a town like that, add a few hundred odd cows for scenic effect and then pile on top of the whole, suddenly, a battalion of heavy field artillery on the move to stay only about a week and you have our present situation. The height of luxury in some things and the height of misery in others. Just where we will go next no one knows but I only hope it will be somewhere warm for the rest of the winter. It isn’t that I am cold but simply that I’m never quite warm enough. That sounds queer but it is perfectly true. There isn’t a great deal more to tell you just now and besides I have got some wild duty to perform just now such as seeing if all the horses have their drink of water before they go to bed or all the men are tucked in or something. We have some of the craziest things to do you can possibly imagine. Good night now.With love, Paul

who died of wounds 15th November 1917 resulting from the action at Ayun Kara, and buried at Ramela Cemetry.

from "New Zealanders in Sinai and Palestine" Powles:- Every available man was hurried as far forward as possible to deal with this threatened attack, and Colonel McCarroll put into the firing line signallers, gallopers and batmen from his own Regimental Headquarters to hold on until the 3rd Squadron could be brought up. The latter advanced in magnificent style under the command of Major Twistleton. This gallant officer brought his men mounted to within a few yards of the heavily attacked line, where they dismounted and engaged the enemy. Major Twistleton here fell badly wounded, and subsequently died of his wounds. This gallant officer was the Commander of the Legion of Frontiersmen in New Zealand. He had served with the Otago Mounted Regiment on Gallipoli with distinction. He had gone to France with the Pioneer Battalion, and after serving on the Western Front for some 12 months had come back to the Mounted Brigade —joining the Wellington Regiment just before the advance against Beersheba. For his good work during these operations he had been given a squadron, and it was in leading his men at a critical period of this day’s fighting that he fell. He was a man of great soldierly qualities and of fearless courage, and he was a splendid horseman. He was born in Yorkshire and came to New Zealand as a young man, where he had proved to be of that stuff of which the pioneers of the British Empire are made. Simple and direct in speech, his shrewd judgment and strong practical common sense proved at all times a tower of strength to his companions.

Military Cross: London Gazette 14th January 1916 21st-28th August 1915 Kaiajik Aghala. Came particularly under notice for distinguished service. (at Gallipoli).
Mentioned in Despatches: London Gazette 28th January 1916, In Connection with the operations described in General Sir Ian Hamilton's despatch dated 11th December 1915.
Served in Gallipoli and also France.

Harry or Henry Jones (1873-1918) was born in Tranmere on the Wirral and later moved to Chester, where he worked making sash and casement windows. During the First World War he enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment. During 1917 he developed health problems and was invalided back to England. He was given a temporary discharge in April 1918, and returned to his old job. His health soon deteriorated further and he became unable to work and was admitted to a military hospital in Chester. He was given a full discharge and 60% disability pension in August 1918, but died on 15 November 1918. His widow, Ann (nee Charlett), then qualified for a pension for herself and their 4 children.

Peace is rapidly dissolving into the light of common day. You can go to London without meeting more than two drunk soldiers; only an occasional crowd blocks the street. But mentally the change is marked too. Instead of feeling that the whole people, willing or not, were concentrated on a single point, one feels now that the whole bunch has burst asunder and flown off with the utmost vigour in different directions. We are once more a nation of individuals.

On 15 November 1918 the Division received orders to join the British force that would advance across Belgium and move into Germany to occupy the Rhine bridgeheads. These orders were cancelled on 21 November, at which time the Division was employed on road and railway repair work in the area of Leuze.

King George V visited the Division on 7 December. On 15 December the Division began to move to the Brussels area. King Albert of the Belgians reviewed the Division, which had begun to demobilise, on 3 January 1919.

Brigadier-General CROFT asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government intend to take to safeguard the interests of British subjects who have property in Germany; and whether arrangements have been made to satisfy such claims of British subjects in British currency out of German property held in this country?

Mr. BONAR LAW This matter is being fully considered in connection with peace terms, but I do not feel able to make any definite announcement at the present time.

Scissors used by Lady Cook for launching S.S. Dilga, Newcastle, 15 November 1919

Biography/History: Lady Cook was the wife of Sir Joseph Cook, who was Minister for the Navy 1917-1920.

One pair of scissors with ornate silver handles and steel blades; in a box covered in dark grey leather with gold embossing, and with cream satin and blue velvet linings. There is a silver coloured metal plate attached to the lid of the box. Also Sir Joseph Cook's card.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE GERMAN DELEGATES : "HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH", 15TH NOVEMBER 1918. NIGHT.

Object description: A night time view of the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth from the bow end of the ship, with a group of German naval officers and Royal Navy officers standing on deck. Two pairs of naval guns are visible in the gloom behind them.

His appointment was something of a surprise, especially as it was made by President Raymond Poincare with whom he had a particularly frosty relationship. Clemenceau had previously held the position until 1909, after which he spent much of his time criticising the government in his own radical newspaper. However, within the first three years of the war three separate Prime Ministers had served and Poincare recognised that Clemenceau’s desire to defeat Germany made him the best replacement.

As 1917 wore on, the French government had become increasingly divided over whether to negotiate peace with Germany. Clemenceau was a fierce critic of this approach, having held a deep-seated hatred of Germany since France’s loss of Alsace-Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian War five years before he was first elected to parliament. His appointment therefore heralded a marked change in government as he sought to consolidate French support behind its troops.

In a speech three days after his appointment, Clemenceau declared, “Nothing but the war. Our armies will not be caught between fire from two sides. Justice will be done. The country will know that it is defended.” This coincided with a clampdown on pacifist opponents and suspected traitors, and he continued to speak in favour of ‘war until the end’ until Germany’s surrender in November 1918. Victory was a double-edged sword: he now needed to negotiate the terms of the peace treaty with Wilson and Lloyd-George, which he described a like being “between Jesus Christ on the one hand, and Napoleon Bonaparte on the other.”

A cotton weaver from Burnley, Lancashire, Arthur was born in the town in 1898.

Resident on Berry Street, Burnley, he enlisted into the Army in September 1914 but, due to his age, saw his active service deferred until 1916 when he travelled to France to join the 7th Bn East Lancs on the Somme.

Arthur served throughout much of the Battle of the Somme, but was killed in action following an attack in front of Stuff Trench during the Ancre battle on 15 November 1916.

In this report, Sergeant Trimble details the convoys arriving at the Hospital as well as the movements and work of various members of staff, some of whom had been affected by an outbreak of influenza. A number of important military gentlemen visited the Hospital and had a favourable impression. Also included is a breakdown of Hospital costs for the month of September 1916.

My Lord,
I beg to submit the following statement covering
the dates of Nov. 8th to the 14th. (...)

I am glad to say that Lieut. Jackson has been dischar-
ged to duty from the Officers Ward and Major Hope and Lieut.
Henry are better although both are much shaken by the severe
nature of their illness, and in both instances a holiday
will be necessary to enable them to become convalescent.
The holiday problem at the present time is rather a diffic-
ult one as the Hospital is exceedingly busy, however I will
take means to arrange this matter.

I regret to have to inform you that Capt.
Coplestone was admitted to the Officers Ward on the 12th.
inst suffering from Quinsey. He is progressing satisfactorily.

On the 8th. inst. Sisters Slevin, Murray and
Weston returned from leave and V.A.D. Nurse Rene Tailour
reported for duty on return from Villa Tino. On the 10th.
V.A.D. Nurse Ethel Turnbull Smith reported her arrival from
England and was taken on the strength of the Hospital from
that date. On the same day Sister Philpott reported for duty
on return from the Convalescent Home at Hardelot. Sisters
Stubington and Hayden went on leave on the 13th. inst.
Captain J. McCloy left for fourteen days leave from the 10th.

As reported to you in my letter of the 13th.
inst. I discharged Chef H. Marco. His conduct for some time
had been unsatisfactory in more ways than one and I think it
will be distinctly in the interest of the Hospital that he has
left. Leon Bertone who was the second chef will be promoted and
I propose his salary shall be at the rate of £4. per week.

The other cooks who form the senior portion of the kitchen
staff are remaining, and some Belgian boys who were employed
have been discharged and I propose to take on the services
of two permanent Base Detail men who I am at present carrying
on my strength. This will effect some economy in the direc-
tion of wages.

I have to report that Sergeant. D. Carter
of the Provisional Company R.A.M.C. attached to this Hospital
has this day been transferred to the Sanitary Section R.A.M.C.
and he has proceeded to Rouen to report to the D.D.M.S. there.

On the 13th. inst. I had as visitors to the
Hospital the French Under Secretary of State for War, Mons.
G. Godart, The Vice President du Consul General, Mons. C. N.
Gayot, G. Menier, Senateur, Mons. Sieguier Mayor of Etaples,
and many other French gentlemen together with Surgeon General
Woodhouse, D.M.S.L. of C. and Colonel Carr D.D.M.S. Etaples.
The French Minister of War should also have come but through
some error he was unable to be present. I showed them the
Hospital and they were certainly very gratified with all they saw.

I further regret to have to inform you that
eight of my Orderlies are in Hospital suffering from what is
thought to be a continuance of the epidemic of Influenza that
has swept over the Hospital.

Even with the curtailment of the staff the Hospital
is working in quite a satisfactory manner.
I have the honour to be,
Your Lordships,
Obedient servant,

Our wounded men now in London speak in the most affectionate terms of General Birdwood, who seems to have identified himself heart and soul with his Australian soldiers. Dressed just like the men he tramps about the trenches, encouraging and directing them. One boy was firing away at the Turks when someone touched him on the shoulder. “Here, go to blazes” he exclaimed, impatiently, and looking round, discovered to his dismay that he was addressing the General. “It’s all right, my boy,” said the latter, patting him on the shoulder, “but let’s have a go at them, will you?” and he took the privates’ gun for a turn.

Many thanks for yours of the 11th received yesterday also for the promise of a ham. We have now got the mess on a better footing and are getting things regularly from the Field Force Canteen, so please do not worry to send things in future or any how so prolifically as there is no reason why the mess should feed at your expense. Still I would not say that an occasional little trifle would not be acceptable.

We were warned at 2 hours notice to relieve trenches last night & we came in late in consequence. I got in presumably about 1:30 but the chief reason for the delay was the activity of the Huns in shelling the main road which hung up all the transport & reliefs in the district for a good hour or more & yet they did no damage except to some houses & trees by the roadside. We are going for them tonight I believe with every gun in the neighbourhood as the Bosches have been getting rather uppish with their skills lately & want to be put in their place. The guns are beginning now (5:30 p.m.) & the shells big & little are whistling away far overhead, while we are quite comfortable under the lea of a hill & quite secure from everything which does not drop direct from the skies.

Unfortunately our fire trenches are not so protected, so they may retaliate on them, which they are rather fond of doing.

I don’t think I should let you know exactly where we are in the trenches but from the indications I have given with regard to the canal should help you as I only know of one round here. The rest camp is at a place beginning with R ʌ5 miles south of a town beginning with P which I have already mentioned.

Yesterday I had to conduct 2 M.P.s round our billets They were brought up by one of the staff to be shown round the trenches, but owing to the shelling aforesaid he did not dare risk their valuable lives by taking them into the trenches so he compromised by showing them the men in billets.

I took them round & I think opened their eyes a bit as I am not sure they did not expect to find each man in a bed, whereas they were all together in such houses as had not been absolutely smashed to bits & some sort of roof or upper floor still standing & mostly in pitch darkness except for candles, as of course there is no glass left in these villages near the trenches owing to its being broken by concussion & the windows are blocked up to keep out the balmy breezes

However they are doing in such places & it is marvelous how cheery they are.

I was a little too early with them, as about an hour afterwards the place was shelled & we had to get the men out. However they didn’t hit the house or do any damage at all. I expect this shelling business will get a little heavier now as the leaves are off the trees, or it may be that they have got some new batteries up, but it has been much more noticeable lately. It might be that it is in reply to our own, as our people don’t appear to stint the ammunition nowadays & loose off whenever they’ve a mind to. I hear that the Munition Ministry has not yet sent a single shell out, so when theirs begin to arrive the bally guns will get red hot in trying to loose it all off.

To revert to the M.P.s one was a Unionist a [condescending sot], of course, who thought he was conferring a favour on the men by coming to see them & the other a Labour M.P. I forget their names. The Unionist was rather like the M.P. in Stalking & Co. who went to talk to the boys. They both certainly knew nothing whatever about soldiering & the one in question had some rotten ideas to propose which I proceeded to squash at once.

I take it that we shall be here for a week before we clear out & I think it will be not so bad, if the weather holds up. It was glorious to-day though cold & freezing a bit, in fact it was possible to get in last night over the mud without going in very deep.

Many thanks for your subscription to the Plum Pudding fund & also for taking so much trouble about the license.

By the way, it occurs to me that Trustee Stocks must depreciate now that govmt. loans are being issued at 4½ & 5% unless they are in something reasonable at par. I don’t want to make any alteration, but it should be considered for my Trustee Stocks. What do you think?